/ 26 November 2012

Mmemezi accused of buying votes for Zuma

Gauteng ANC deputy secretary Humphrey Mmemezi has been implicated in an alleged attempt to bribe Tshwane ANC members to vote for Jacob Zuma.
Gauteng ANC deputy secretary Humphrey Mmemezi has been implicated in an alleged attempt to bribe Tshwane ANC members to vote for Jacob Zuma.

This was allegedly ahead of the party's Mangaung conference in December.

The Star reported on Monday it was "reliably told" that the Tshwane region's party chairperson and mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa fingered the former Gauteng housing minister at a provincial executive committee meeting on Saturday.

Ramokgopa, an ally of ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, apparently also claimed Gauteng's community safety minister Faith Mazibuko was involved in the cash-for-votes scandal.

Both Mazibuko and Mmemezi denied involvement.

Mmemezi said: "I deny all allegations against me. It is a known fact that I vote for Zuma. I do not have that money they are talking about."

Mazibuko offered to make her bank account details available to prove there was no merit to the claims.

"[Ramokgopa] did not mention names … I never offered cash to anybody in the regions," she said.

Zuma and the party's national working committee have set up three task teams to investigate allegations about fraud and irregularities in some branches' nomination processes.

Controversial Mmemezi resigned his post as Gauteng local government and housing minister in July after reports said he was to be dismissed for the abuse of state funds and for damaging a government vehicle following the return of the premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, from a state trip to China.

It had also been claimed that Mmemezi used government funds to buy a painting – worth R10 000 – from a McDonald's in Pretoria. 

Mmemezi was also linked to an accident involving West Rand teenager Thomas Ferreira, who was hit by an official Gauteng government vehicle in November 2011. – Sapa